Tissue distribution and toxicity of intravenously administered titanium dioxide nanoparticles in rats. 2008

Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
BASF Product Safety, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

The tissue distribution and toxicity of intravenously administered nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2) (>10 wt.% at <100 nm size) were investigated because of the fundamental importance to obtain information on the kinetics of this widely used nanoparticle in a situation of 100% bioavailability. Male Wistar rats were treated with single intravenous injections of a suspension of TiO2 in serum (5 mg/kg body weight), and the tissue content of TiO2 was determined 1, 14, and 28 days later. Biochemical parameters and antigens in serum were also assessed to determine potential pathological changes. The health and behavior of the animals were normal throughout the study. There were no detectable levels of TiO2 in blood cells, plasma, brain, or lymph nodes. The TiO2 levels were highest in the liver, followed in decreasing order by the levels in the spleen, lung, and kidney, and highest on day 1 in all organs. TiO2 levels were retained in the liver for 28 days, there was a slight decrease in TiO2 levels from day 1 to days 14 and 28 in the spleen, and a return to control levels by day 14 in the lung and kidney. There were no changes in the cytokines and enzymes measured in blood samples, indicating that there was no detectable inflammatory response or organ toxicity. Overall, rats exposed to TiO2 nanoparticles by a route that allows immediate systemic availability showed expected tissue distribution, no obvious toxic health effects, no immune response, and no change in organ function. Therefore, even with 100% bioavailability of the 5 mg/kg TiO2 dose afforded by the intravenous route of administration, there were no remarkable toxic effects evident in the experimental animals. These results indicate that TiO2 nanoparticles could be used safely in low doses.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007275 Injections, Intravenous Injections made into a vein for therapeutic or experimental purposes. Intravenous Injections,Injection, Intravenous,Intravenous Injection
D008297 Male Males
D009929 Organ Size The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness. Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010316 Particle Size Relating to the size of solids. Particle Sizes,Size, Particle,Sizes, Particle
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013473 Sunscreening Agents Chemical or physical agents that protect the skin from sunburn and erythema by absorbing or blocking ultraviolet radiation. Sunscreen,Sunscreens,Agents, Sunscreening
D014018 Tissue Distribution Accumulation of a drug or chemical substance in various organs (including those not relevant to its pharmacologic or therapeutic action). This distribution depends on the blood flow or perfusion rate of the organ, the ability of the drug to penetrate organ membranes, tissue specificity, protein binding. The distribution is usually expressed as tissue to plasma ratios. Distribution, Tissue,Distributions, Tissue,Tissue Distributions
D014025 Titanium A dark-gray, metallic element of widespread distribution but occurring in small amounts with atomic number, 22, atomic weight, 47.867 and symbol, Ti; specific gravity, 4.5; used for fixation of fractures.
D014874 Water Pollutants, Chemical Chemical compounds which pollute the water of rivers, streams, lakes, the sea, reservoirs, or other bodies of water. Chemical Water Pollutants,Landfill Leachate,Leachate, Landfill,Pollutants, Chemical Water
D017208 Rats, Wistar A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain. Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats

Related Publications

Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
August 2011, Toxicology letters,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
March 2014, Nanotoxicology,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
January 2013, PloS one,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
July 2021, Journal of applied toxicology : JAT,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
December 2012, Toxicological research,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
July 2014, Particle and fibre toxicology,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
January 2013, Journal of nanomaterials,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
March 2010, Archives of toxicology,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
October 2020, Nanoscale,
Eric Fabian, and Robert Landsiedel, and Lan Ma-Hock, and Karin Wiench, and Wendel Wohlleben, and Ben van Ravenzwaay
March 2014, Nanotoxicology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!